Why is the 1982 penny worth so much?

The most valuable 1982 penny is a transitional error caused by the move from 95% copper to 99.2% zinc composition. It's the 1982-D "small date" Lincoln Memorial cent made from copper. There wasn't supposed to be any "small date" bronze Lincoln cents struck in Denver in 1982.

How much is a 1982 penny worth?

Most 1982 pennies in circulated condition are only worth either their face value of $0.01 or their weight in copper if they are of the copper variety. These coins can only sell for a premium in uncirculated condition.

How much is a pre 1982 penny worth today?

A pre-1982 penny has about 2 cents worth of copper in it. Some people hoard them, betting that the U.S. will kill the penny and then it will be legal to melt them down and they can make a killing.

Is there anything special about a 1982-D penny?

The 1982-D has been a highly sought-after coin ever since the first one was discovered in Minnesota in 2016 and sold for $18,800 at auction. Now that a second specimen has been found, it gives collectors even more hope of finding one. A second 1982-D Small Date homogenous copper alloy Lincoln cent has been discovered.

How rare is a 1982 small date copper penny?

The 1982-P Small Date copper Lincoln cent is one of the most difficult memorial cents to find in high grade condition. They are scarce even in MS64 and MS65 grades. It is one of the most difficult varieties to find in high grade out of all seven different varieties of this date.

Are Your 1982 Pennies Worth Money, Large and Small Date Varieties Explained

How can you tell if a 1982-D penny is copper?

If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them.

Which 1982-D pennies are worth money?

A 1982-D Small Date, found by a collector searching for pure copper alloy cents being saved for their melt value, sold for $18,800, and a 1983-D Lincoln cent, found after reading the book, Strike It Rich with Pocket Change, sold for $17,625.

How do you tell a 1982-D small date?

The 1982-D small date bronze Lincoln cent is a rare and valuable transitional error! So, how do you find them? There are two key diagnostics: the size of the date and the coin's weight. The 1982-D small date bronze weighs about 3.1 grams, versus only 2.5 grams for the far more common zinc issue.

What are the 7 different 1982 pennies?

What year pennies should I keep?

Lincoln pennies that were minted between 1959 and 1982 tend to be worth more since they are almost 100 percent copper, rather than an alloy.

Should I hoard copper pennies?

So, your best option is to keep those copper pennies until they get rid of the penny, and sell them then. It will be a nice way to make so money! It might seem not worth it now, but in 2026 you will smile upon the day you started to save copper pennies! Thank you for reading, and good luck coin roll hunting!

What pennies are worth keeping?

Is it legal to melt pennies for copper?

It is not illegal to melt, form, destroy, or otherwise modify US coins, including pennies, unless the objective is fraudulent or with the intent of selling the raw materials of the coins for profit. Projects that use coins as materials are entirely legal in the United States.

How much is a copper penny worth 2021?

How Much Is A Copper Penny Worth 2021? The uncirculated condition is the only condition in which these coins sell for a premium. It is priced around $0.20 to buy a 2021 penny without a mint mark and $0.00 to buy a 2021 penny with a mint mark. A MS 65 grade for a 30 in uncirculated condition.

What penny is worth $1000000?

A 1943 Lincoln penny that soared in value because it was made from the "wrong" material reportedly has sold for $1 million. The penny was erroneously made of bronze instead of zinc-coated steel at the San Francisco Mint, according to UPI news agency. Texas Rangers co-chairman Bob R.

Is a 2020 penny worth anything?

Most 2020 pennies in circulated condition are only worth their face value of $0.01. These coins can only sell for a premium in uncirculated condition. The 2020 penny with no mint mark and the 2020 D penny are each worth around $0.30 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade.

What is the rarest penny?

Are 1982 pennies 95% copper?

So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years. So a penny produced before 1982 is worth 2.2 cents based on the metal it contains.

How much is 80000 pennies worth?

$800 dollars.

What is the oldest penny?

What is this? The oldest penny in the world is the Birch Cent of 1792.